LUSAKA – President Hakainde Hichilema has with immediate effect terminated the appointment of Charity Munganga as Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Administration, ending her tenure in one of the Zambia Police Service’s senior command positions. The decision was announced by State House on Sunday, October 4, 2026, in a brief statement signed President Hakainde Hichilema has terminated Charity Munganga’s appointment as Deputy Inspector General of Police. State House has not given a reason.

LUSAKA – President Hakainde Hichilema has with immediate effect terminated the appointment of Charity Munganga as Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Administration, ending her tenure in one of the Zambia Police Service’s senior command positions.
The decision was announced by State House on Sunday, October 4, 2026, in a brief statement signed by Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka.
State House did not give a reason for the termination.
Instead, the statement said the President had taken the decision pursuant to Article 270 of the Constitution and expressed gratitude to Ms. Munganga for her service to Government, while wishing her well in her future endeavours.
That leaves the immediate question surrounding the sudden change: what prompted the President to terminate the appointment?
For now, the official statement does not provide an answer.
A senior police command position
Munganga was appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Administration by President Hichilema in November 2025, having previously served as Central Province Police Commissioner. She was among senior officials sworn into office at State House following her appointment. �
Southern Highlands
Her responsibilities placed her within the top leadership of the Zambia Police Service, particularly on the administrative side of the institution.
Only a day before the termination announcement, Munganga was publicly carrying out official police duties.
On October 3, she was reported to have been in Northern Province on a nationwide tour aimed at strengthening operational efficiency and discipline within the Police Service.
During that engagement, Munganga spoke about professionalism, integrity, accountability and respect for human rights, telling police officers that the badge represented public trust and that abuse of power or deviation from the police code of conduct would not be tolerated. �
Lusaka Times
The timing therefore makes the termination particularly notable.
On Saturday, she was publicly representing the Police Service in her capacity as Deputy Inspector General for Administration.
On Sunday, State House announced that her appointment had been terminated with immediate effect.
What does Article 270 mean?
State House specifically cited Article 270 of the Constitution as the basis for the decision.
Article 270 provides that, unless the Constitution expresses a contrary intention, the power to appoint a person to an office includes the power to confirm the appointment, exercise disciplinary control and remove that person from office. �
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The provision has previously been cited by President Hichilema when terminating appointments of senior public officials.
For example, State House cited Article 270 in February 2025 when announcing the termination of several appointments at ministerial and permanent-secretary level. �
Zambia Cabinet
It has also been used in the termination of a Deputy Inspector General of Police before, when President Hichilema terminated Milner Muyambango’s appointment as Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations in January 2025. �
Lusaka Times
But Article 270 itself does not tell the public why a particular appointment has been terminated. It establishes the constitutional power to remove where applicable; the State House statement in Munganga’s case does not set out any specific allegation, disciplinary finding or other reason.
What has not been said
At this stage, there is no official explanation linking Munganga’s removal to misconduct, a disciplinary matter, the conduct of the Police Service during the August 13 general elections, or any other specific incident.
That distinction matters.
Reports circulating before the official statement suggested that changes could be coming within the police command. News Diggers reported on Sunday that sources within the police command had confirmed Munganga’s removal, while also noting that speculation had circulated about possible changes involving other senior police officials. The publication said those other changes had not been confirmed by its sources. �
Zambia: News Diggers!
Zambian Eye cannot independently treat those unconfirmed reports as fact.
For now, the confirmed position is narrower: President Hichilema has terminated Munganga’s appointment, the decision takes immediate effect, and State House has not disclosed the reason.
The bigger picture
The removal comes at a significant time for the Zambia Police Service.
The institution has been under considerable public scrutiny over policing, accountability, political tensions and the handling of public order following the 2026 general elections.
Munganga herself had recently been publicly emphasising professionalism, impartiality and respect for human rights within the Service. In August, she also represented the Inspector General at a training workshop on community policing and prevention of electoral and political violence, where the Police Service reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful and credible electoral processes. �
Lusaka Times
Her departure therefore creates a vacancy in one of the Service’s two Deputy Inspector General positions and raises questions about whether the President intends to make further changes to the police command.
For now, however, there is no official announcement of a replacement in the State House statement.
The unanswered questions
The first is why the appointment was terminated.
The second is whether the President will make further changes within the Police Service.
The third is who will take over the administrative responsibilities previously handled by Munganga.
And perhaps most importantly, whether State House will provide a fuller explanation for the decision.
For a senior police command position, the timing is significant enough to warrant attention, but the absence of an official reason means any explanation beyond what has been formally stated would currently be speculation.
Zambian Eye will therefore continue to follow the developments, including any announcement on Munganga’s replacement and any further changes to the Police command.

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